Director Sweeps Awards

When a tear-stained GableStage guru Joseph Adler mounted the stage for a fifth time Monday night to accept a Carbonell award, producer Jay Harris announced it was "the night of the Adler."

GableStage, known for its edgy contemporary fare, won seven Carbonells with a searing Death Row drama, A Lesson Before Dying, and its first musical, James Joyce's The Dead.

The Coral Gables theater and its creative team took home the largest number of sculptures handed out in the 27th annual ceremony recognizing excellence in South Florida theater during the 2001-2002 season.

The presentations at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale doubled as a celebration of survival for theatrical companies who have struggled to stay financially afloat in the post-9/11 world of uncertain subscription lists and shaky sponsorship.

"On Monday nights after the games, I hear the coaches all the time talking about millionaires who need to be motivated," Adler said. "I have the privilege of working with people here -- their commitment, their talent, their incredible intelligence and their passion."

Lesson won best play, The Dead best musical and GableStage Artistic Director Joseph Adler won two best director awards for helming both shows.

Romulus Linney's play also resulted in a best actor award for John Archie who portrayed a teacher counseling a former student sentenced to the die in the electric chair.

The Dead, a chamber musical based on Joyce's short story of an eventful Christmas party in turn of the century Dublin, also won best ensemble and best scenic design for Rich Simone.

Lynne Izzo's evocative costumes and Barbara Flaten's from-scratch choreography were honored from the Actors Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre's lavish The King and I.

The one surprise was that the New Theatre's critically acclaimed production of Hamlet only won the sound award for M. Anthony Reimer. But the same company's Tom Walker won supporting actor and actress in a play honors for Ken Clement (who wore a kilt to accept the award) and Lisa Morgan who played a gallery of different parts. Smithereens, a play by the New Theatre's frequent guest playwright, Mario Diament, won the award for best new work.

Hollywood Playhouse's revival of the wickedly satirical musical Ruthless provided a best actor Carbonell for Wayne LeGette who donned outrageous dresses as a female talent agent plus a best supporting actress award for Maribeth Graham who portrayed a failed actress turned schoolteacher.

The ceremony benefits a fund that has provided almost $100,000 in scholarships for South Florida high school and college arts students.

Honoring composer Richard Rodgers' 100th birthday, the awards were interspersed with musical performances by former Plantation resident Marc Kudisch, a Tony Award nominee for the current Broadway hit Thoroughly Modern Millie; the Peter Graves Orchestra; Larry Lapin and the UM Jazz Vocal Ensemble, and Blake Hammond, currently performing Pumbaa in The Lion King and who won a Carbonell last year as Alexander Woolcott in Florida Stage's At Wits End.

Bill Hirschman can be reached at bhirschman@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4513.